72 Actresses Each Represent a Year of a Woman’s Life in Poignant Japanese Commercial

In a clever new commercial, Japanese food company Glico poignantly presents the everyday moments and important milestones that take place over the course of a lifetime. Featuring 72 actresses, the advertisement employs a stop-action technique to quickly chronicle a woman’s life, putting a sentimental spin on the brand’s motto: “a wholesome life in the best of taste.”

Titled 71.8-Second Life, the commercial comments on the current global life expectancy. Though only featured for a single second, each actress respectively represents a year of the character’s life.

Naturally, the short film begins with footage of a fussy young baby. Once she is peacefully placed into her crib, the infant rapidly begins to age, transforming into a young girl right before viewers’ eyes. From there, she morphs into a teenager, wife, mother, and grandmother, all in the company of loved ones. The commercial eventually ends with the character’s death, concluding a short but sweet glimpse into her 72-year existence.

At the time of filming, each actress included in the TV spot was actually the same age as her role, adding both accuracy and poignancy to the fictional character’s story. So much more than a promo, the Japanese commercial serves as a heartwarming reminder of just how fast and fleeting life can be.

A clever Japanese commercial by Glico features 72 different actresses. Each individual represents a year in the life of a single character.

The ad offers poignant commentary on the world’s life expectancy, which is currently only 71.8 years.